[Kellzir]

I got my welcome kit as well. Cool stuff. I briefly looked through it and left it in the trunk.

Gaminicool - I can imagine the kind of attention you get. The MINI doesn't even have to try to get giggles, I think it comes automatically.

[gaminicool]

[dpacker]

Quote: Originally Posted by gaminicool

I just had to spend the 15 bucks to get this accessory for the Minis tire valve stems I also got the chome licence plate cover to add to my personal plate

Just sharing the fun

gaminicool - Like the stem covers. I got the checkered flag for mine. The husband got the Union Jack ones for his electric blue MINI. I think those little stem covers are just the cutest! I think I may have to get a few more and swap them out...not that most people will ever notice. Like that plate cover too. I put a plate cover on mine (not a MINI one) and it flaps up and down when I close the boot hatch. Might have to find a new one.

That's funny about the giggling. My sister came to visit this weekend. I took her for her first ride in the MINI late the other night. She was giggling too! I think she liked it. Sounds like your date was enjoying it too. I think that's cute. I love the reactions that these little cars get.

We both got our welcome kits last week! Did I post that already? If so, sorry. I still haven't read the entire unofficial owners manual, but everything else is really cute. MINI is just so on top of the whole marketing thing. I'm quite impressed.

Yep, still having that dreaded black spot problem. Took the MINI the 3 hours to the dealership yesterday. They say that it can't be the tires and that there is nothing leaking. In fact, they say it has nothing to do with the MINI at all. I was a little annoyed that they wouldn't listen to what I had to say. But, I let them wax it up and tell me how it was something in the air or something where I was parking. They didn't have an explanation for why my husband's doesn't get it even though we park side by side at work. And, I park in the garage at home when he parks in the carport! They told me that it was up to me to do the detective work to figure out the problem. Okay, no problem, but I plan to make them look pretty stupid when I figure it out.

The first step in my detective work started yesterday. Half way home (1.5 hours), I stopped for fuel and inspected the entire car. Already there were some spots that wouldn't wipe right off...even with the brand new coat of wax just a couple of hours old. I drove it home through a few rain showers and parked it in the garage. Today we took mine and my husband's and had our wheels swapped out. I can't believe he's doing this when he thinks it has something to do with the tires too, but he put my tires and wheels on his MINI. Then we cleaned his up and inspected it very closely for spots...no spots. Mine already had little spots all over it, so I spent a couple of hours cleaning it up this evening (sucks since it just got cleaned and waxed yesterday). I removed all of the spots from the driver side and most of the boot. Now the experiment begins. We're going to take both MINIs to the beach this weekend (about 200 miles roundtrip) and see what the results are. It's bad to say, but I hope mine comes back with no spots and Mike's comes back with lots of them. At least then I will know it's the tires and hopefully I can get them to change them for something different. If his comes back with lots of spots, I will have to do something very nice for him for letting me use his MINI in my experiment.

So, as odd as it sounds, everyone keep their fingers crossed that my husband has little black spots all over his little blue MINI after this week.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. 4-day work week. Yippee!

Debbie

[AprilWhine]

Deb, are the spots heavier in any area, or evenly distributed over the car? Are there more spots closer to the ground, or on top of the hood? Near the exhaust pipe? Backspash from the tires? The pattern could help you find the cause.

[dpacker]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Deb, are the spots heavier in any area, or evenly distributed over the car? Are there more spots closer to the ground, or on top of the hood? Near the exhaust pipe? Backspash from the tires? The pattern could help you find the cause.

Hi April,

Most of them were on the boot. Actually...the boot was covered with them. There were also quite a few just behind the front wheels and then there were more (not really in a pattern) splattered upwards and back to the rear of the car. I haven't found any on the hood yet. There were even some on the back window. I think those might have showed up after driving it in the rain.

I may be wrong, but I think it's the pattern on these Dunlop tires that I have. They are those tires that are supposed to be really good in the rain (and they seem to be). They have swooshes (for lack of a better word) that direct everything outward. I think they sling more stuff than the Pirellis that seem to be on most of the MINIs that I've seen. I'm hoping to prove this theory with the tire swap between mine and Mike's.

Such fun. I suppose I should be happy that it's nothing mechanical. I think I will eventually figure it out. I think most people who get them think it's normal. I guess I would have too were it not for Mike not getting them on his. What sucks is that these tires are supposed to be more expensive. I suppose more expensive isn't always better. After all, look at the MINI - I'd much rather have it than some $60,000 sports car!

How are you and your little yellow MINI doing? I was actually thinking that my next MINI should be a yellow convertible, but we just read this weekend that they are discontinuing the Liquid Yellow for the Cooper S and the convertible! Can you believe that?

Debbie

[AprilWhine]

That has been the story of my MINI life so far. I bought a silk green, discontinued. With the green leather interior, now discontinued. Replaced with a LY convertible, soon to be discontinued.

Good luck on the wheel swap.

[gaminicool]

Deb - hope you find the source of the black spots I have web spokes with Dunlop tires and no black spots Swapping the wheels and tires is a great idea - you may have some kind of defect in the tire - hope you find out soon and then make the dealer fix the problem

I wish the rain would go away I want to drive in the mountains again. I'm off work this week

[AprilWhine]

Quote: Originally Posted by gaminicool

Deb - hope you find the source of the black spots I have web spokes with Dunlop tires and no black spots Swapping the wheels and tires is a great idea - you may have some kind of defect in the tire - hope you find out soon and then make the dealer fix the problem

I wish the rain would go away I want to drive in the mountains again. I'm off work this week

I think it's going to rain for quite a while, first from Cindy, then from Dennis. No top down fun for me for a while either.

[crosebud]

Hi guys,

Just checking in. Just got back from a 4 day road trip up to Eugene, Oregon. The MINI did great, but on some of those mountain passes, I did think, hmmm . . . an MCS might be just the thing here. Actually, I might just need to learn how to make fuller use of the CVT. I"m still driving it in automatic mode. So much technology, so little time . . .

I went on this trip with that tall guy I'm dating. I think we are quite an interesting sight stepping out of a MINI--me at 5'11" (and a half) and him at 6'9 (in socks). If MINI would like to use us for a commercial, we would consider it

It was fun being out of the Bay Area because suddenly the MINI is more special to other motorists, the guy pumping the gas (they pump it for you in Oregon--and I watched him like a hawk!). Got a nice MINI wave in downtown Eugene.

I'm getting to a new level of comfort with the car, I guess--the MINI's got bugs all over the bonnet, and I even broke down and allowed us to drink frozen coffee drinks on the road. However, I did all the driving. And we're talking a lot of driving. It's 12 hours to Eugene! On the way back we cut through Napa county, found some fantastic twisties through the vineyards. Oh, and I finally passed the break in period. Life is good.

[Kellzir]

Crosebud - glad to hear the MINI is doing well and life is going good. Sounds like a fun road trip. That is a good idea for an advertisement, sounds better than the new commercial G-whiz. That one is stupid funny. I only allow covered drink in the MINI, still no food can be eaten inside.

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kellzir

I only allow covered drink in the MINI, still no food can be eaten inside.

Same rules in Bruiser, yet somehow (miraculously) there's spots of milk all over the cup holder. Of course, my wife was driving him the other day while I got stuck with the Acura . . . .

I'm trying to be relaxed about it. In fact, I feel guilty right now, while Bruiser looks pretty darned good, one of the other folks here in the complex where I work has an original Shelby GT 350 Mustang, and that darned thing is cleaner and shinier than Bruiser. Guess it's time for a buff job.

[gaminicool]

I got some starbucks and put the coffee in the large cup holder - hit a bump and it went everywhere -even with the open vent on the cup covered After that- no more open drinks that are not totally enclosed

Hey Crosebud- looks like our dates like our Minis and us so far

[crosebud]

Quote: Originally Posted by gaminicool

Hey Crosebud- looks like our dates like our Minis and us so far

Yes, I do believe the MINI is improving my love life!

Now I never would have posted this on my own, but my tall date knows of my MINI message board hobby, and he suggested I show you guys this photo (he says he's a bit of a ham). So now imagine this fellow riding more or less comfortably in the passenger seat of a MINI for 12 hours from San Francisco to Eugene, Oregon. Okay, so maybe the giant cupholder was a little in the way of his left knee, but other than that, everything was pretty darn great. This man is all set to motor some more!

[AprilWhine]

Congrats Crosebud, he's a nice looking fellow.

[erickvonzipper]

Quote: Originally Posted by crosebud

my tall date suggested I show you guys this photo. now imagine this fellow riding more or less comfortably in the passenger seat of a MINI for 12 hours.

My goodness,and he's not even standing up straight!

Zip

[Johnny L]

Hi, All! Just checking in. I just hit 3000 miles (I really need to Motor more!), and Black Jack is running like a top--no problems whatsoever! I've been pushing him pretty hard, too! I also received my welcoming kit, and when my dear spouse saw the car bingo, she lit up! She grew up with that!

Crosebud: congrats on yer feller! Also, it's very good to know that you he fits in the car okay. But hey, at nearly 6 foot yourself, you're no shorty either!

rsinsheimer and Kellzir: I have to admit you guys are neat freaks compared to me. No matter how much I clean and clean, Black Jack just wants to go out and get dirty! I tell ya, he's just like a little kid, always getting into mischief! Maybe I need to be a stricter disciplinarian or something. I have allowed food (mostly Egg McMuffins), and drink (Peet's coffee or tea, but NO Starbucks!!!--sorry gaminicool). Frankly, I don't see this changing . . .

[dpacker]

Quote: Originally Posted by erickvonzipper

My goodness,and he's not even standing up straight!

Zip

That's exactly what I said! He's tall...very, very tall!

After seeing that, you two should definitely be contacted for a commercial. That would be so cool!

As for open containers, I haven't been brave enough to have anything other than plastic bottles with caps in my MINI. I know my luck...the stuff would be everywhere! In fact, I grabbed a can of soda yesterday to take to work with me and cool for later. I didn't even make it out my door until I dropped it, the can busted and soda was flying everywhere. I wasn't driving the MINI that day, but that was hint enough for me to not be taking stuff like that in the MINI!

With all of his spots coming and going on the outside, he says that he doesn't need anything like that on the inside!

We're taking the MINIs with their swapped wheels and tires on the road this weekend! I'm so excited to see what happens! Yeah, I know...I really need to get a life.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Debbie

[AprilWhine]

Can't be afraid forever! I drove my MINI from VA to NH for MINIs on Top, and ate lots of gooey stuff along the way. I even drank grape soda! Wendy's chili and a can of grape soda is the best for road food.

[Johnny L]

So, April. How'd you heat up the chili? On the heated seats?

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

Can't be afraid forever! I drove my MINI from VA to NH for MINIs on Top, and ate lots of gooey stuff along the way. I even drank grape soda! Wendy's chili and a can of grape soda is the best for road food.

[erickvonzipper]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

I drove my MINI from VA to NH for MINIs on Top,

There's a Mini at my dealer that has a MINIS ON TOP decal in each side rear window. What does MINIS ON TOP mean?

Zip